Architecture

Apple's new store glows like a paper lantern

Apple's new store glows like a paper lantern
Cotai Central was designed by Foster + Partners, in collaboration with Apple's Jonathan Ive and Angela Ahrendts
Cotai Central was designed by Foster + Partners, in collaboration with Apple's Jonathan Ive and Angela Ahrendts
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Apple Cotai Central is situated among a bamboo grove
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Apple Cotai Central is situated among a bamboo grove
Apple Cotai Central features a bamboo installation in its central atrium
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Apple Cotai Central features a bamboo installation in its central atrium
Apple Cotai Central's bamboo
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Apple Cotai Central's bamboo 
Two stone staircases lead to the upper level in Apple Cotai Central
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Two stone staircases lead to the upper level in Apple Cotai Central 
"The first-of-its-kind glass-stone composite facade comprises five layers of glass integrated with incredibly thin layers of stone, which gives the building its distinctive materiality – appearing as translucent stone walls, akin to stained-glass," says Foster + Partners
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"The first-of-its-kind glass-stone composite facade comprises five layers of glass integrated with incredibly thin layers of stone, which gives the building its distinctive materiality – appearing as translucent stone walls, akin to stained-glass," says Foster + Partners
Apple Cotai Central's atrium is topped by skylights that let in natural light
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Apple Cotai Central's atrium is topped by skylights that let in natural light
Cotai Central was designed by Foster + Partners, in collaboration with Apple's Jonathan Ive and Angela Ahrendts
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Cotai Central was designed by Foster + Partners, in collaboration with Apple's Jonathan Ive and Angela Ahrendts
View gallery - 7 images

Foster + Partners recently unveiled its latest Apple store. Located in Macau, China, the building is intended to resemble an oversized paper lantern and features an upper facade made from a "first-of-its-kind" glass/stone composite that the firm likens to stained glass.

Apple Cotai Central was designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Apple's design chief Jonathan Ive and vice president of retail and online stores, Angela Ahrendts.

The building is situated in a bamboo grove and fronted by a public plaza. Its ground level is wrapped in a glazed facade flanked by a bamboo screen, but the upper facade, which is translucent and glows softly at night, is the most notable feature of this building.

"The first-of-its-kind glass-stone composite facade comprises five layers of glass integrated with incredibly thin layers of stone, which gives the building its distinctive materiality – appearing as translucent stone walls, akin to stained-glass," explains the firm. "The structural frame is supported by just three corner columns wrapped in mirrored stainless-steel that reflect the patterns and colors of the facade, dematerializing the structure and blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment."

Apple Cotai Central's atrium is topped by skylights that let in natural light
Apple Cotai Central's atrium is topped by skylights that let in natural light

Inside, bamboo grows in the central atrium, mirroring the grove outside. A large wall-mounted screen is also installed and two stone staircases offer access to upper floors where display tables are installed.

Britain's Foster + Partners is very much Apple's architecture firm of choice and the two companies have collaborated closely in recent years. As well as designing its high-profile stores, it was responsible for the tech giant's futuristic new headquarters and visitor center.

Source: Foster + Partners

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1 comment
1 comment
jgb
What a glorious waste of energy, all in an effort to be asthetically pleasant.